Gerda Henkel Foundation is offering research scholarships in diverse fields. Applicants of all nationalities are eligible to apply for these scholarships.
The overarching aim of establishing the foundation was to transform the public higher education to improve quality and efficiency of teaching and learning, creating a world-class higher learning institution.
The sole object of the Foundation is to promote science at universities and research institutes, primarily by supporting specific projects in the field of the humanities that have a specialist scope and are limited in time. The Gerda Henkel Foundation concentrates its support on the historical humanities, mainly on history, archaeology, the history of art and other disciplines with a historical component.
Applicants from outside the home country will often need to meet specific English language/other language requirements in order to be able to study there.
Eligibility Criteria
The following criteria must be met in order for applicants to be eligible for these fellowships:
- Applications for a “research scholarship for post-doctoral researchers” may only be made if applicants received their PhD within the last ten years. The relevant date is that on the PhD certificate. (This restriction does not apply to research scholarships after Post Doctoral Lecture Qualification.)
- The dissertation must have already been published at the time the application is made. The presentation of a publishing contract is not sufficient in this regard.
- The topic of the proposed research project must clearly differ from the topic of the PhD thesis.
Offered Benefits
The simultaneous receipt of salary and a research scholarship is not possible. The period of support for Foundation stipend holders working on Ph.D. or research projects can be extended by up to 12 months if the holder becomes a parent during the period covered by the stipend and has an entitlement to maternity or parental leave. Individual arrangements must be discussed with the Foundation’s administrative office.
Research Scholarships for Postdocs: Monthly scholarship award: 2,000, – euros
Instead of the grant paid hitherto toward covering documented costs for outside childcare, Foundation stipends holders working on Ph.D. or research projects who have submitted their application after 1 January 2014, will receive a monthly family grant awarded on presentation of the child’s birth certificate. The family grant is disbursed for children who have not yet turned 18.
- for one child: EUR 300,-
- for two children: EUR 400,-
- for three or more children: EUR 500,-
Monthly endowment for scholarships abroad: 500, – euros
Travel aid: as required
Material aid: as required
Research Scholarships after Post Doctoral Lecture Qualification
- Monthly scholarship award: 2, 700, – euros
As equivalent to the German Habilitationthe Foundation accepts positions as „Associate Professor“ or „Full Professor“ / „Distinguished Professor“ (according to the North American university system) and „Senior Lecturer“ or „Reader“/„Professor“ (according to the Commonwealth university system), respectively.
Instead of the grant paid hitherto toward covering documented costs for outside childcare, Foundation stipends holders working on Ph.D. or research projects who have submitted their application after 1 January 2014, will receive a monthly family grant awarded on presentation of the child’s birth certificate. The family grant is disbursed for children who have not yet turned 18.
- for one child: EUR 300,-
- for two children: EUR 400,-
- for three or more children: EUR 500,-
Monthly endowment for scholarships abroad: 675, – euros
Travel aid: as required
Material aid: as required.
Application Process
The mode of application is online.
The following forms are to be attached to an application for financial support for a research project (German or English) and to be sent by postal mail to the Foundation
- printout of the completed electronic form
- description of the research proposal (max. 8 pages)
- plus bibliography if necessary (in addition to the max. 8 pages)
- documents printed on one side only, at least font size 11 and line spacing 1.5 (The foundation kindly ask you to keep to the formal requirements on how to compile application documents)
- time schedule and working plan with information about the necessary travel to archives, libraries, and museums or other destinations
- Description of the journeys to archives, museums or other destinations which are closely related to the subject of the project and detailed calculation of the costs (travel and lodging). No flat-rate daily allowance or flat-rates for hotel expenses shall be paid. The Foundation can’t cover any college or tuition fees.
- calculation of material costs (e.g. for photocopies or film versions of archive material, photographs, etc., not a lump sum for books)
- if necessary, a declaration that unpaid leave from the current position is possible
- tabular curriculum vitae with the list of publications
- academic certificates (Masters, Ph.D., professorship, etc.; please do not send Bachelor certificates)
- One letter of recommendation. References have to be signed personally by the author and sent to the Gerda Henkel Foundation. A signed version by email (info-at-gerda-henkel-stiftung.de) or fax is accepted. It is possible to submit more than one letter of recommendation.
